Green Guide: <i>Graptophyllum pictum</i>

‘Tricolor’ Photos courtesy of Pen & PetalYou get call from a customer who wants summer-long color in a display bed in front of their business, but the bed is exposed to full sun all day on one end and is in shade on the other? What can be specked that will provide a reasonably uniform look across this wide light regime and still hold up in the summer heat?
 
A traditional interiorscape plant might offer a solution.  Graptophyllum pictum, more commonly known as caricature plant, has medium- to coarse-textured colorful variegated foliage that retains a dense canopy in full sun to two-thirds or more shade. This tropical shrub from New Guinea has been grown for many years in low-light interiorscapes, conservatories and malls. However, it works equally well as a summer tropical in outdoor landscapes in warmer climates.

Vivid variegation
This species earns its name from the irregular splotched pattern of light yellow or creamy white variegation found in the center of each dark lustrous green leaf. The background color of the leaves varies from dark green to a metallic chocolate brown. Cultivars are available with differing extents of central variegation including white, creamy white, light yellow, pink or light green. The lush 4- to 7-inch long elliptic leaves feel almost rubbery. On larger plants, inflorescences may develop, which consist of narrowly trumpet-shaped 1½-inch long reddish to purple-red individual flowers in short erect 3- to 4-inch long racemes or panicles. Flowers are of secondary importance to the foliage effects.

In the landscape
Although adapted to all but the most alkaline of soils and intense heat, caricature plant is intolerant of extended drought and will suffer chilling damage. A well-drained moist soil and good fertility will contribute to strong vegetative growth. Occasional infestations of spider mites, thrips or scale insects may occur, but these are more likely to become a problem in interiorscapes or greenhouse production than during landscape use.
 
Caricature plant makes an excellent patio container plant. It lends a strong tropical flavor to summer landscapes and its season of enjoyment can be extended by digging plants or rooting cuttings to take indoors for winter color. Plants will root readily from cuttings.
 
Caricature plant will form a medium size upright oval shrub in tropical climates, maturing at 6 feet or 8 feet tall. Caricature plants grow quickly and benefit from early pinching to induce a good form on young specimens. 

 

Originally published in TNLA Green magazine. Reprinted with permission.
www.tnlaonline.org/products/tnla-green/index.php